Reacting to cases of atrocities on Dalits reported from parts of the state, Haryana Chief Minister Khattar Friday said the “state government is not only committed to ensure” their safety but is “also sensitive towards their rights”. He said, “Those found violating their rights will not be spared at any cost and stern action will be taken as per the law.”

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Khattar was addressing mediapersons on the sidelines of a function to announce the state’s new licencing policy.

On the murder of two Dalit children at Sunpedh in Faridabad, he said, “The state government provided an immediate financial relief of Rs 10 lakh to the kin of the deceased and announced that a government job would be given to one member of the family. A CBI inquiry has been ordered into the incident.”

On the death of a Dalit minor boy in Gohana after he had been detained by the police, the chief minister said, “The matter is being investigated by police. The post-mortem report is awaited and the exact reasons behind the incident can be ascertained only later.”

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In a reply to another question, Khattar said, “With a view to ensure the effective implementation of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, in the state, regular meetings of state level vigilance and monitoring committee and district level vigilance and monitoring committees are being held.”

“I have also given directions to hold these meetings at regular intervals while presiding over a meeting of deputy commissioners and superintendents of police recently. I also directed them to prepare a list of sensitive villages in their respective areas and make efforts to resolve their mutual issues through vigilance and monitoring committees. In case the problem persists, strict vigilance should be ensured,” he added.

Mumbai: The Republican Party of India (RPI) has accused its alliance partner, the BJP, of creating a climate of insecurity for Dalits across the country in the wake of two violent incidents in Haryana this week.

“The government should dispel this climate of insecurity. The feeling of being unsafe in India should be taken out of Dalits’ minds,” said RPI leader Uttam Khobragade on Friday.

The party, however, said that the central government cannot be held responsible for Minister V K Singh’s “uncalled remark” equating the death of the dalit toddlers with the stoning of dogs. But he said: “This comment just shows the mindset of the people in the government towards Dalits. Such ministers should be removed,” Khobragade said, adding that criminal action be initiated against V K Singh under the Atrocities Act.

Asked if the RPI would continue to support the BJP, Khobragade declared that “political ties don’t matter to us when Dalits are being attacked”.

Panel summons Sonepat SP, DC

Chandigarh: The National Commission for Scheduled Castes Friday summoned Sonepat Deputy Commissioner Rajiv Rattan and Superintendent of Police Abhishek Garg to appear before it on October 26 in connection with the death of a 14-year-old Dalit boy.

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Both the officers have been directed to submit an Action Taken Report in the case.

Meanwhile, the provisions of Prevention of Atrocities against SC/ST Act were added in the FIR registered against two Assistant Sub-Inspectors — Subhash and Ashok — named in the case. No arrests have, however, been made.

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Earlier in the day, dead boy’s family and members of the Dalit community in Gohana protested for more than three hours and kept the body in the middle of a road. “The family performed last rites of the boy on Friday. A probe is on,” said police.